Family and Town at Odds over Dog Bite

A family in the town of Yellow Grass is fighting to keep their dog after it bit a 13-year-old boy.

Brandy Gosse said the boy was known to her but entered her yard without permission. She said her dog Max, a Border Collie Pyrenees mix, barked and growled but the child approached anyways.

"On June 29, probably about 7:30 in the evening, I could hear my dog barking and growling outside and I had actually gone outside to see what was going on and that's when I saw a kid of a family friend I know walking across the street and I didn't really think anything of it," shared Gosse. "Two hours later I get a text message from his mother stating that they were on their way to Weyburn hospital because my dog had attacked him."

Milestone RCMP were contacted, according to Gosse, however no criminal charges were laid as the bite was considered a provoked attack.

Gosse said she received a letter from the Town of Yellow Grass on July 12 deeming her dog a danger and that it must be removed from the town within two weeks. She has set up an enclosure and fitted the dog with a muzzle as per the towns dangerous dog bylaw but refuses to get rid of her dog.

"I'm doing my own part to ensure this never happens again," said Gosse. "Nobody wants to see a 13-year-old get bit, nobody wants to see a 40-year-old get bit, but at the same time I don't think it's right that they're asking me to re-home our family pet."

Gosse said she will speak about the issue at the next town council meeting on August 8. The town administrator said they will discuss the matter with her but declined any further comments.

Recently, Yellow Grass residents with pit bull type breeds were issued a letter by the Town of Yellow Grass requesting special measures be taken by owners of any "dangerous dog" to include an enclosure, muzzle, approved leashes, signage and liability insurance. Dangerous dogs in the Town's bylaws include Pit Bulls, Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and Rottweilers.